Muscle Relaxing Injections for Facial Lines & Wrinkles

Botox® / Vistabel® are the trademark names for the Allergan brand of Clostridium botulinum toxin. (Botox® is the name used in the US, Vistabel® the UK and European name). The other brand we currently use is called Azzalure.

Botox® injections have been safely used for more than a decade in children and adults to improve muscle spasm of the facial muscles. This toxin has also been useful around the eye to correct double vision due to muscle imbalance, as well as numerous other neurological uses. Vistabel® is now approved in the UK for treatment to improve the appearance of the vertical lines between the brows.

Results from Botox® injections are usually very dramatic and extremely positive. The facial muscles that have caused the skin to contract and wrinkle, will relax, which in turn allows the skin to smooth, creating a more youthful appearance.

A few tiny injections of Botox® relax overactive muscles, which results in a softening of the vertical lines between the brows. Injections in other areas to improve the appearance of facial lines have been reported in the literature. Other areas that have been successfully treated are the lines around the eyes, commonly referred to as "crow's feet," and the horizontal lines across the forehead and nose. It has also been used in the lower face around the mouth area and to treat excessive sweating in the hands and armpits.

A minute amount of diluted botulinum toxin solution is injected with an extremely small needle into the targeted muscle(s). The injections are very simple, fast, and safe. Any pain associated with the injections is minimal. No sedatives or local anaesthetics are required, and you may engage in your daily activities immediately after your treatment.

The targeted muscle(s) do not immediately relax. The benefits develop over the next two to seven days. The muscle(s) will remain in a relaxed state for a period of six weeks to six months. On average a Botox® result will last for a period of about three months.

The results of Botox® and Vistabel® are temporary. Maintenance sessions are needed to sustain the results over time. How often those treatments are needed will vary from person to person (usually 3-4 monthly in the first year and 6 monthly after that). To obtain optimal results, several sessions may be required. Optimal response is very subjective. Optimal to some is a softening of expression lines, but optimal to others is a total lack of muscle movement.

Side effects and complications have been minimal. Occasionally, temporary slight swelling, and/or bruising may last for a few days after the injections. The incidence of bruising can be greatly decreased by avoiding, for a period of two weeks prior to your injections, Aspirin or Aspirin containing products, Ibuprofen, or anything that is going to cause a thinning effect on the blood. If you are taking Warfarin you must make this clear to the practitioner.

A possibility, but not a probability, is the inadvertent relaxing of a muscle that was not the intended target. This could potentially result in a temporary eyelid droop. You will be instructed not to lie flat, or rub the injection sites for approximately four hours after your treatment so that the Botox® does not spread to adjacent muscles.

In the unlikely event that you were to end up with an eyelid droop, Botox® paralysis is temporary. Eye drops can be made available to you to lessen the effects of a temporary droop, or left untreated, the droop will resolve on it's own without any treatment at all. Other potential side effects include: headache, nausea, or mild flu like symptoms.

Under no circumstances will Botox® injections be performed if there is an infection at the desired injection site.

Other contraindications to Botox® include Pregnancy, Breast feeding, Myaesthenia Gravis, Lambert Eaton Syndrome and certain coagulation disorders. The principle drug reaction is with a class of antibiotic known as the Aminoglycosides. You must inform the Practitioner of any possible contraindications or medication you are taking.

After reading the above information please do not hesitate to ask any questions you still may have.